Types of Forests in India: Quick Answer
NCERT (Class 11, India: Physical Environment, Chapter 5) divides Indian forests into five types: (1) Tropical Evergreen and Semi-Evergreen, (2) Tropical Deciduous (moist and dry), (3) Tropical Thorn, (4) Montane, and (5) Littoral and Swamp (mangrove) forests. The type depends mainly on rainfall and temperature, which is why this topic sits right next to Indian climate in the SSC General Awareness syllabus. Tropical deciduous (monsoon) forests are the most widespread type in India.
Key exam takeaway (rainfall bands): Evergreen above 200 cm → Moist deciduous 100–200 cm → Dry deciduous 70–100 cm → Thorn below 50 cm. Montane forests change with altitude, mangroves with tidal water.
India's forest cover is 7,15,343 sq km, or 21.76% of its geographical area, and forest plus tree cover together is 25.17%, as per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023, released on 21 December 2024. ISFR 2023 is still the latest edition quoted by the Environment Ministry as of November 2026.
Why rainfall matters so much is explained in Indian Climate Notes for SSC (monsoon and Koppen); read that first if the rainfall map of India is not yet clear to you.
The 5 Types of Forests in India (Master Table)
| Forest type | Annual rainfall | Main regions (NCERT) | Typical trees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tropical Evergreen | Over 200 cm; mean temperature above 22 °C | Western slopes of the Western Ghats, hills of the Northeast, Andaman and Nicobar Islands | Rosewood, mahogany, aini, ebony |
| Semi-Evergreen | Less rainy parts of the same regions | Same belts, drier edges | White cedar, hollock, kail |
| Moist Deciduous | 100–200 cm | Northeastern states along the Himalayan foothills, eastern slopes of the Western Ghats, Odisha | Teak, sal, shisham, hurra, mahua, amla, semul, kusum, sandalwood |
| Dry Deciduous | 70–100 cm | Rainier parts of the Peninsula, plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar | Tendu, palas, amaltas, bel, khair, axlewood |
| Tropical Thorn | Less than 50 cm | Semi-arid south-west Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh | Babool, ber, wild date palm, khair, neem, khejri, palas |
| Montane | Varies with altitude | Himalayas; Western Ghats, Vindhyas and Nilgiris in the south | Oak, chestnut, chir pine, deodar, blue pine, spruce, silver fir; sholas in the Nilgiris |
| Littoral and Swamp | Tidal and wet areas | Sundarbans, Andaman and Nicobar, Mahanadi, Godavari and Krishna deltas | Mangroves (salt-tolerant species) |
1. Tropical Evergreen and Semi-Evergreen Forests
- Found where rainfall is over 200 cm and the mean annual temperature is above 22 °C.
- Trees can grow 60 m or taller. The forest is layered: shrubs and creepers near the ground, short trees, then very tall trees.
- There is no fixed season for shedding leaves, flowering or fruiting, so the forest looks green all year. That is the meaning of "evergreen".
- Semi-evergreen forests grow in the slightly less rainy parts and mix evergreen with moist deciduous trees.
SSC angle: "Rosewood, ebony and mahogany belong to which forest type?" Answer: tropical evergreen.
2. Tropical Deciduous (Monsoon) Forests
NCERT calls these the most widespread forests in India. They grow where rainfall is 70–200 cm and the trees shed their leaves in the dry season.
Moist deciduous (100–200 cm)
Northeastern states along the Himalayan foothills, the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats and Odisha. Teak and sal are the big commercial trees; sandalwood also belongs here (a common trap, because many students mark it as evergreen).
Dry deciduous (70–100 cm)
Rainier parts of the Peninsular plateau and the plains of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. In the dry season the trees shed all leaves and the forest looks like a grassland with bare trees. Teak also grows here, with tendu, palas, amaltas, bel and khair.
3. Tropical Thorn Forests
- Rainfall below 50 cm: semi-arid south-west Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
- Plants stay leafless for most of the year and look like scrub. Tussocky grass grows up to 2 m.
- Key species: babool, ber, wild date palm, khair, neem, khejri, palas.
4. Montane (Mountain) Forests
Temperature falls as altitude rises, so vegetation changes in belts.
| Altitude in the Himalayas | Vegetation (NCERT) |
|---|---|
| Foothills | Deciduous forests |
| 1,000–2,000 m | Wet temperate forests; evergreen broad-leaf oak and chestnut |
| 1,500–1,750 m | Pine forests, especially chir pine |
| Western Himalaya | Deodar (durable construction wood); chinar and walnut in Kashmir |
| 2,225–3,048 m | Blue pine and spruce; temperate grasslands |
| 3,000–4,000 m | Silver fir, juniper, pine, birch, rhododendron; alpine pastures |
| Highest reaches | Mosses and lichens (tundra-type vegetation) |
The alpine pastures are used for transhumance by the Gujjars, Bakarwals, Bhotiyas and Gaddis. The southern slopes of the Himalayas have thicker vegetation than the drier north-facing slopes.
Southern mountain forests occur in the Western Ghats, the Vindhyas and the Nilgiris. The temperate forests of the Nilgiri, Anaimalai and Palani hills are called sholas. Magnolia, laurel, cinchona and wattle grow here.
5. Littoral and Swamp Forests (Mangroves)
- Mangroves grow along coasts in salt marshes, tidal creeks, mud flats and estuaries; they are salt-tolerant.
- India's mangrove cover is 4,992 sq km (ISFR 2023). NCERT notes this is about 7% of the world's mangroves.
- Best developed in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Sundarbans of West Bengal; also in the Mahanadi, Godavari and Krishna deltas.
- Mangroves act as a natural barrier against storm surges during cyclones, which is why the east coast deltas matter so much.
Forest Cover of India: ISFR 2023 Facts (As of November 2026)
| Fact | Figure |
|---|---|
| Forest and tree cover | 8,27,357 sq km (25.17% of geographical area) |
| Forest cover | 7,15,343 sq km (21.76%) |
| Tree cover | 1,12,014 sq km (3.41%) |
| Increase over ISFR 2021 (forest + tree cover) | 1,445 sq km |
| Largest forest cover by area | Madhya Pradesh (77,073 sq km), Arunachal Pradesh (65,882 sq km), Chhattisgarh (55,812 sq km) |
| Highest forest cover by percentage | Lakshadweep (91.33%), Mizoram (85.34%), Andaman and Nicobar (81.62%) |
| States/UTs with forest cover above 33% | 19 |
| Mangrove cover | 4,992 sq km |
| Bamboo-bearing area | 1,54,670 sq km |
| Edition | 18th report; ISFR is published every two years by the Forest Survey of India, Dehradun, since 1987 |
Forest policy: India adopted a forest policy in 1952, revised in 1988. The 1988 National Forest Policy aims to bring one-third (33%) of the geographical area under forest or tree cover (two-thirds in hills and mountains).
Memory Trick: "E-M-D-T" by Rainfall
Read India from wet to dry: Evergreen (200+) → Moist deciduous (100–200) → Dry deciduous (70–100) → Thorn (under 50). Kerala's western Ghats slope is E; Odisha is M; UP–Bihar plains are D; western Rajasthan is T. Then add two "special" types: Montane (by altitude) and Mangrove (by tide).
Soils follow the same climate story; see types of soil in India (laterite in heavy-rain areas, arid soil in the thorn belt).
Types of Forests in India: 10 Practice MCQs
Q1. Tropical evergreen forests in India receive annual rainfall of: (a) Below 50 cm (b) 70–100 cm (c) 100–200 cm (d) Over 200 cm Answer: (d).
Q2. Which is the most widespread forest type in India? (a) Tropical evergreen (b) Tropical deciduous (c) Montane (d) Mangrove Answer: (b). Also called monsoon forests.
Q3. Sandalwood is a tree of which forest type (NCERT)? (a) Evergreen (b) Moist deciduous (c) Thorn (d) Alpine Answer: (b).
Q4. "Sholas" are found in: (a) Aravalli hills (b) Nilgiri, Anaimalai and Palani hills (c) Shivaliks (d) Garo hills Answer: (b).
Q5. Khejri and babool are typical of: (a) Tropical thorn forests (b) Moist deciduous forests (c) Mangroves (d) Evergreen forests Answer: (a).
Q6. As per ISFR 2023, which state has the largest forest cover by area? (a) Arunachal Pradesh (b) Chhattisgarh (c) Madhya Pradesh (d) Odisha Answer: (c). 77,073 sq km.
Q7. Which UT has the highest forest cover as a percentage of its area (ISFR 2023)? (a) Andaman and Nicobar (b) Lakshadweep (c) Ladakh (d) Puducherry Answer: (b). 91.33%.
Q8. India's mangrove cover as per ISFR 2023 is about: (a) 2,500 sq km (b) 4,992 sq km (c) 9,500 sq km (d) 15,000 sq km Answer: (b).
Q9. Deodar is mainly found in the: (a) Eastern Himalayas (b) Western Himalayas (c) Western Ghats (d) Thar desert Answer: (b).
Q10. The National Forest Policy 1988 aims to have what share of India's area under forest or tree cover? (a) One-fourth (b) One-third (c) Half (d) Two-thirds Answer: (b). Two-thirds is the target for hill areas.
Take a timed test next: SSC CGL geography mock test 01 or SSC CHSL geography mock test 01.
Types of Forests in India FAQs
How many types of forests are there in India?
NCERT groups them into five types: tropical evergreen and semi-evergreen, tropical deciduous (moist and dry), tropical thorn, montane, and littoral and swamp forests.
Which forest type covers the largest area in India?
Tropical deciduous (monsoon) forests, found where rainfall is 70–200 cm.
What is the forest cover of India as per ISFR 2023?
7,15,343 sq km, which is 21.76% of the geographical area. With tree cover, the total is 8,27,357 sq km (25.17%).
Where are mangrove forests found in India?
Mainly in the Sundarbans (West Bengal) and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and also in the Mahanadi, Godavari and Krishna deltas. Total mangrove cover is 4,992 sq km.
What is the difference between forest cover and forest area?
Forest cover is land actually under tree canopy as mapped from satellite data by the Forest Survey of India, whatever its ownership or legal status. Forest area is land recorded as forest in government records, even if parts of it have few trees.
Practice Next for Indian Geography
- Core notes: Indian Climate Notes for SSC
- Related: Kharif, Rabi and Zaid crops list, Indian climate MCQs for SSC
- Also read: National parks in India 2026, Biosphere reserves in India, Tiger reserves in India
- Mocks: SSC CGL geography mock test 02, SSC GD geography mock test 01
Sources: NCERT Class 11, India: Physical Environment, Chapter 5 Natural Vegetation; PIB, ISFR 2023 release, 21 December 2024; PIB, 6 February 2025 (National Forest Policy target). Last checked 7 November 2026.